#Hack.Jozi is back
JOBURG - With combined prizes valued at a whopping R5 million, and comprising a R1 million cash prize for the winner, R350 000 for two runners-up each and a boot camp for the top 100 digital business ideas, you might just want to share your great digital idea which promises to transform your community.
The City of Joburg’s Department of Economic Development and Wits University, through the Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE), have partnered to make the second #Hack.Jozi Challenge possible.
The challenge is a boot camp for startup entrepreneurs which aims to foster skills, innovation and entrepreneurship in the digital technology space.
Ravi Naidoo, executive director of economic development for the City of Joburg, who oversees the competition explained, “We aim to accelerate visionary entrepreneurs in the ICT sector. This is important because ICT is central to improved productivity, economic growth and job creation. We are a young city with a young population and we have an excellent business and research capacity which can create the perfect environment for us to develop advanced ICT products and services.”
The City of Joburg encouraged the public to participate in the competition, saying that there is no issue too big or small to address using digital innovation.
Issues that could be explored include everything from access to healthcare, affordable education, public spaces and tourism, smart infrastructure and economic development.
“If you have an idea about how you can use technology to help your community and grow the economy, we want to hear from you,” said Naidoo.
The ICT hub of Braamfontein, which will host and mentor the top 100 contestants, is an initiative of Wits University under the leadership of Professor Barry Dwolatzky.
Before you can join the league of leading digital innovators, you must enter the competition before 25 March and you could then be awarded a slice of the R5 million pie.
Details: hackjozichallenge.co.za
